Former East Ky. doctor sentenced in drug case

(AP) — A former eastern Kentucky doctor has been sentenced to more than six years in prison for dispensing thousands of prescription painkillers.

U.S. District Judge Amul Thapar sentenced 66-year-old Richard Albert of Paintsville on Wednesday in court in Lexington to 75 months in prison to be followed by three years’ supervised release.

The U.S. attorney’s office said Albert also agreed to forfeit more than $630,000 in proceeds and was ordered to pay $100,000 in community restitution.

Prosecutors say Albert admitted writing numerous fraudulent prescriptions between January 2009 and February 2011. The prescriptions were typically for Percocet, and court records indicate Albert often wrote some 40 to 50 fraudulent prescriptions in a day.

Prosecutors say the investigation began after large numbers of people routinely were seen lining up outside Care More Pain Management clinic.